An elderly man with Alzheimer’s who wandered away from his nursing home in over 100 degree heat was found dead in a nearby creek. The man had a history of wandering away from his Kansas City, Missouri nursing home but apparently correct measures were not in place to prevent this from recurring.

Police searched from the 75-year-old man for hours after he was reported missing early last Sunday with temperatures above 100. The Missouri Search and Rescue canine unit found the man later that evening about a mile and a half from the nursing home. Police say it appears he had fallen and was found face down in a creek.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of the man’s death.

Although it is unclear exactly what went wrong in this case, when proper measures are not put in place to prevent nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s from wandering away from the home, it is indeed a form of nursing home abuse.

In a case such as this, the man was particularly at risk given that he had wandered away before. We advise anyone who believes that they or a family member has been hurt due to the negligence of a nursing home to contact a nursing home abuse attorney to discuss your legal options.